United Airlines adds Starlink Wi-Fi — and a potential loyalty perk to poach Delta, American flyers

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United Airlines is rolling out high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on flights and inviting travelers to try the service with a valuable new MileagePlus status match.

United ( UAL ) has spent much of this year upgrading its flights to have Starlink access. A recent analyst note from Sheila Kahyaoglu at Jefferies said Starlink is already available on just under 600 United aircraft. That includes about 300 regional jets and 300 mainline aircraft.

That's an increase from the over 450 aircraft United reported in its July earnings. Earlier this year, Ankit Gupta, United's chief air operations officer, said close to 1,000 aircraft would have Starlink by the end of 2026.

United says it expects 50% of its mainline fleet to have Starlink by the end of this year, and 100% to be equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2027.

The quick rollout puts United ahead of other major U.S. airlines in switching to high-speed internet in-flight. American Airlines ( AAL ) is also upgrading to Starlink, though it will begin installing the service in 2027. Delta Air Lines ( DAL ) offers free Wi-Fi to SkyMiles members on flights and is making "meaningful enhancements" to that service this year, but will begin upgrading to Amazon Leo (another high-speed service) in 2028.

In the meantime, United is using its advanced Wi-Fi service to entice travelers to switch from American and Delta to its MileagePlus loyalty program via a status match offer. Until Oct. 15, elite-status members of either competing airline can get a status match with United lasting through Jan. 31, 2028.

Here's what to know about United's Starlink availability and MileagePlus perks for those who take advantage of the match.

On flights with Starlink Wi-Fi enabled, United MileagePlus members can connect for free. Without a MileagePlus account, travelers won't be able to access the Starlink connection.

United's first wide-body Starlink flight across the Atlantic was on June 22, from Newark to London. The airline said passengers could expect the service on routes between its major hubs in the U.S., including Newark, Washington D.C., Houston, and San Francisco, and popular international destinations — London, Paris, Tokyo, and more.

While travelers won't know the Starlink status of their flights at booking, they can find out whether they're on an upgraded plan when checking in for a flight.

For flights that don't yet have Starlink, United still offers Wi-Fi options. Access costs $8 or 800 miles for United MileagePlus members and $10 for everyone else. That's for domestic and short-haul international flights; prices for other international flights can vary.

As it rolls out Starlink access — and amid an ongoing dispute between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Delta CEO Ed Bastian — United is making its faster Wi-Fi a selling point for frequent travelers who may be looking for a change.

Through Oct. 15, travelers with elite status on Delta or American Airlines can get their status matched within the United MileagePlus program. The status match will last through Jan. 31, 2028.

Members can submit their request on United's website by completing a form and uploading proof of status within either the Delta SkyMiles or American AAdvantage loyalty program. That request will get approved within three days and remain active for 90 days.

Within the 90-day period, members must also meet a certain spending threshold on United or United Express flights to maintain the status match until January 2028. The required spend depends on the status being matched:

Delta SkyMiles or American AAdvantage status

Platinum Medallion / AAdvantage Platinum Pro

Diamond Medallion / AAdvantage Executive Platinum

Anyone with MileagePlus status is eligible for free Starlink Wi-Fi on eligible United flights, even standard members. But increasing status tiers also offer additional benefits when flying United. Here's a closer look at some of the perks of each tier:

Premier Silver: 1 free checked bag, Group 2 boarding, 2 more miles earned per dollar on flights, free day of departure upgrades when available

Premier Gold: 2 free checked bags, Group 1 boarding, 3 more miles earned per dollar on flights, free upgrades starting 48 hours before departure

Premier Platinum: 3 free checked bags, Group 1 boarding, 4 more miles earned per dollar on flights, free upgrades starting 72 hours before departure, and 40 PlusPoints (which you can use to request upgrades on United and eligible partner flights)

Premier 1K: 3 free checked bags, priority pre-boarding, 6 more miles earned per dollar on flights, free upgrades starting 96 hours before departure, free drink and snack when flying Economy, and 280 PlusPoints

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